Chapter 312: The Grand Duke of Shanghai

"Yes.

"Playing matchmaker is fine.

"If Xiaohui takes a liking to him, everyone will be happy.

"If she doesn't, work is work, but dating is off the table."

Hong Zhiyou knew that arranged marriages were popular in this era, so he felt it was better to be clear about some things.

"That goes without saying.

"Rest assured, we value like-mindedness, and feelings are the same.

"You need to have confidence in Sanmin."

Yu Zecheng nodded hurriedly in agreement.

"Alright, then it's settled. I'll provide whatever cover you need, but you'd best be careful with Li Ya.

"I've had a feeling lately that something isn't right with that guy."

Hong Zhiyou offered a word of warning, then called the proprietor over to order two more plates of mutton.

"The gold my senior sister snatched back from Yan Dong—keep ten percent for yourselves, and hand the rest over to Old Zhou to deposit at the Sihai Bank." He stood up, grabbed his coat, and prepared to leave.

"Oh, and keep an eye on Vice Prefect Qian's Huiguang Bank.

"This guy has used US dollars to exchange for a lot of gold bars and antiques over the past year. Once he ships them out, it will be a massive loss for Jinhai."

Yu Zecheng called out.

"Got it. Don't forget to bring some dipping sauce for my senior sister."

Hong Zhiyou didn't look back; he turned and walked away.

Yu Zecheng quickly blanched the newly arrived meat, packed it into a plate, sprinkled it with sauce, mixed it evenly, then placed it into a food tray and chased after him.

Returning home.

Cuiping was in the courtyard washing clothes.

Yu Zecheng took one look and said, "Cuiping, my clothes from the last two days are still piled up."

"You spend all day staring at Whether Zuo Lan's photo in a daze, no time to wash clothes? Are you handless or footless?

"Since she's already sacrificed herself, you might as well spend the rest of your life hugging her photo."

Cuiping's wooden paddle slammed against the washboard with a rhythmic *thump-thump*.

"I—I brought you something to eat." Yu Zecheng's lips trembled as he spoke hurriedly.

Cuiping rolled her eyes at him and said nothing.

Watching Yu Zecheng walk inside with his head hanging low, she couldn't help but feel a secret joy.

He didn't eat it all by himself and even knew to bring some back; he still had a bit of conscience, at least.

Cuiping hung out the laundry and returned to the room.

Opening the food tray, she found three plates piled high with hot, blanched mutton slices and two sesame flatbreads. The aroma of the mutton mixed with the sauce was incredibly tempting.

"So much? Mutton is terribly expensive right now. Who was the host?" Cuiping asked, her expression tightening.

"Xie Ruolin," Yu Zecheng said.

"That scoundrel from the Dangtong Bureau? He's that generous?" Cuiping picked up her chopsticks and sat down.

"He's not a scoundrel.

"Strictly speaking, he is our friend, just like Hong Zhiyou.

"Shall I go warm it up for you?"

He reached out to take the plate.

"No need, it's still warm. If you brought this much, Old Xie must be heartbroken. What else would they have to eat?" Cuiping laughed while eating.

"They have money.

"They can also get their hands on these daily necessities. You eat more," Yu Zecheng said.

"By the way, Zhiyou has agreed to play matchmaker for Sanmin and Xiaohui."

He paused and looked at Cuiping.

"That's wonderful.

"With Liao Sanmin's guidance, she can become a true fighter," Cuiping said with great joy.

"Mm.

"Hurry up and eat."

Yu Zecheng smiled, rolled up his sleeves, and walked out to the courtyard to scrub the clothes himself.

Cuiping stuffed a few mouthfuls into her mouth, rushed out, and pushed him aside:

"I'll do it."

"You didn't want to wash them earlier, I'll just do it myself," Yu Zecheng said.

"I want to now. Three bowls of mutton for washing a few pieces of clothing isn't a bad deal." Cuiping started competing with him for the laundry.

"Cuiping, you go eat first, I can—" Yu Zecheng really didn't want to force her.

Cuiping got angry. With a burst of strength in her arm, she sent Yu Zecheng tumbling off his small stool onto his backside. Before he could even speak, she roared at him:

"If you want to wash them, don't you know to go inside?

"People who don't know better would think I'm a lazy woman!

"I must have had eight lifetimes of bad luck to end up with a man like you!"

Yu Zecheng was stunned by the scolding.

"Yes, it's my fault.

"I'll be careful next time. Calm down."

He stood up, completely in the wrong, and offered a soft apology.

Then, leaning against the doorframe, he watched Cuiping bury her head in the work, pounding and scrubbing the clothes with vigor.

Suddenly.

The gloom and frustration that had been weighing on his heart for so long inexplicably dissipated.

Whether Zuo Lan was like a shooting star in the night sky, illuminating the path ahead.

But Cuiping was the ray of sunlight hanging above his head every day. Perhaps she wasn't as dazzling or eye-catching as a shooting star, but her warmth was something he could feel truly and tangibly every single day.

This was life.

He had to accept the blows of life, find warmth, pull himself together, and devote his heart and soul to the revolutionary cause.

Starting from this moment.

Let it start from this very second.

Forget the past, forget all the unpleasantness, and give himself a chance for a brand-new beginning.

Fortunately, everything was still in time.

Cuiping.

This woman who radiated warmth—she was still here.

She still possessed a full passion for the future and maintained an impassioned fighting spirit at every moment.

She was the sunlight.

And even more, she was his lighthouse!

Giving him enough strength to pierce through the final sliver of darkness before the dawn.

Thinking of this.

He looked at Cuiping, the corners of his mouth curling up involuntarily, and he laughed out loud.

"Are you sick in the head?

"Yu Zecheng, let me tell you, I've tolerated you for a long time, don't force me to hammer you!"

Cuiping threw her wooden paddle into the basin and pointed at him, annoyed.

"Yes, yes.

"I'm sick, I deserve a hammering, alright?" Yu Zecheng laughed heartily.

Despite what he said, he ran faster than a rabbit, scurrying up the stairs.

"You annoying brat!"

Cuiping grumbled as she sat back down and continued scrubbing the clothes.

Jinhai Airport.

Xie Ruolin jogged all the way and finally made it to the plane.

Once on board.

He nodded and bowed to greet several key officials from the Northeast faction who were going to attend the meeting.

Just as he was about to sit down.

He saw Li Ya sitting in the back row.

Their eyes met, and the look of surprise, malice, and sharpness in Li Ya's eyes made Xie Ruolin's heart hang in his throat.

Generally, rushing to Jingling by plane meant there was something important.

Perhaps even something top-secret.

This wasn't a good time for him to be on this flight.

"Captain Li, it's a long journey. You wouldn't mind if I sat here and chatted to pass the time, would you?" Xie Ruolin took the initiative to ask.

"Of course.

"We're old friends, after all," Li Ya said.

The two chatted idly.

Upon arriving in Jingling.

"Captain Li, when are you heading back? Let's keep each other company then," Xie Ruolin said after getting off the plane.

"No need.

"I still have some business to attend to. It might be sooner, it might be later.

"Old Xie, there are some things that shouldn't be said—don't say them.

"You understand."

Li Ya patted his shoulder and quickly disappeared into the night.

"Threatening me?"

Xie Ruolin sneered and walked in the other direction.

Hangcheng Station.

Inside the Yayuan.

Mao Wanli personally poured tea for Li Ya and laughed loudly:

"Brother, we lost quite miserably during that last trip to Jinhai.

"You were poisoned.

"I was caught red-handed. If it weren't for Director Mao protecting me, I'd probably still be sitting in a Jingling prison right now."

"Sigh, the past is too painful to look back on," Li Ya sighed.

"Let me guess, why did you come to Hangcheng, brother? Are you thinking of switching your allegiance to my elder brother's camp?" Mao Wanli laughed.

"Station Chief Mao truly lives up to that North American special training.

"That's right.

"After the Three People's Principles Youth League was banned, I became a wandering ghost. Fortunately, I still have this skin of the Secret Service Bureau, so I wouldn't call it switching allegiances.

"I can only say I'm loyal to the Chief of the Department," Li Ya said.

There was still arrogance between Li Ya's brows.

Deep down, he only respected Jiang Jianfeng.

It was a pity that the man didn't think much of him.

Mao Renfeng—*heh*—a petty man. It was nothing more than playing along and using one force to strike another.

"Loyalty requires capital," Mao Wanli said.

"Of course.

"I know you've always wanted to be the Jinhai Station Chief and get your revenge.

"I've come this time to offer you a gift."

Li Ya handed over the documents and intelligence left behind by Lu Qiaoshan.

Mao Wanli flipped through them roughly and was delighted:

"Is this true?"

"True. This is what Lu Qiaoshan left for me.

"You know he and I were mortal enemies; he left this behind hoping I would help him fulfill his dying wish.

"Once we get a grip on Yu Zecheng, even the King of Heaven couldn't protect Wu Jingzhong.

"By then, wouldn't the Jinhai Station be yours for the taking?"

Li Ya said coldly.

"What are your demands?" Mao Wanli asked directly.

"I want to be the Deputy Station Chief.

"That way, I can investigate Yu Zecheng openly and honestly.

"Otherwise, Wu Jingzhong will always be holding me back," Li Ya said.

"Wait here."

Mao Wanli went straight into the inner room.

A moment later, he walked back out with long strides and laughed:

"Director Mao has agreed to your request. You can go back and wait for the good news."

"I heard Jianfeng is coming to Shanghai?" Li Ya didn't rush to leave.

"Maybe.

"The waters in Shanghai are too deep; not everyone can handle them.

"I have official business, so I won't keep you company."

Mao Wanli had no interest in chatting idly with him and stood up to leave.

"Dog thing!

"Isn't he just relying on having an elder brother to cover for him?"

Li Ya's brows furrowed, and he cursed under his breath.

The next day.

Xie Ruolin hurried back to Jinhai and arrived at the old alleyway for their meeting.

"This is the intelligence Old Yu wanted.

"Also, I saw Li Ya on the plane.

"The kid looked like he wanted to silence me. Who knows what important business he had over there."

He took the documents out of his briefcase and handed them to Hong Zhiyou.

"Do you want to go to Xiangdao to avoid the limelight?" Hong Zhiyou handed him five large gold bars and asked.

"No... no need.

"I have to sell the house. These next two days, I need to use Mrs. Sun's influence to book a few more mahjong games at the Military Families Association and the club to get the deal done," Xie Ruolin said with a dry laugh.

"Alright, I'll send two armed experts to act as your bodyguards," Hong Zhiyou nodded.

"No need.

"I already left a note in the old house over there: 'The one who kills me is Li Ya.'

"Given Li Ya's character, he's surely seen it by now.

"At the very least, I'm one of Director Sun's people now, a proper section-level cadre of the Dangtong Bureau. If he still wants to handle other business, there's no need for him to fight me to the death.

"Besides, didn't he almost kill me once before?"

"I—I'm not afraid of him.

"He knows he can't scare me."

Xie Ruolin, however, understood Li Ya.

"You aren't afraid, but I am. I'm still counting on you to help me hit my performance targets.

"That's settled."

Hong Zhiyou waved his hand, making the final decision.

"Do the bodyguards... charge a fee?" Xie Ruolin was very concerned about this.

"No fee," Hong Zhiyou nodded.

"Alright then, we'll do as you say." Xie Ruolin nodded happily and walked away with his briefcase tucked under his arm.

Returning to the station.

Wu Jingzhong was reading the newspaper. Seeing Hong Zhiyou, he put it down and sighed:

"Director Mao just called me. He has officially appointed Li Ya as Deputy Station Chief.

"The reasoning is very sound.

"Li Ya is a Colonel, the Deputy Station Chief position in the station is vacant, and the establishment is incomplete.

"Now it's perfect—no one is fighting for it, no one is grabbing for it, a perfect fill-in.

"We'll be holding a meeting in a moment to announce it."

"Teacher, I suspect Lu Qiaoshan left something for Li Ya, or called him. Li Ya's movements have been strange ever since he left prison," Hong Zhiyou said.

"How strange?" Wu Jingzhong asked, frowning.

"He went to Jingling last night.

"Today, Director Mao's arrangements came down. This can only mean he most likely defected to Mao Renfeng.

"He might have even revealed some important things as a bargaining chip.

"Otherwise, with Mao Renfeng's petty face, he wouldn't have promoted Li Ya, who once followed Jianfeng, to Deputy Station Chief."

Hong Zhiyou analyzed.

"What you say is very likely.

"Lu Qiaoshan was a founding member of the station and participated in many matters like Ma Kui's. No one knows how much he had in his hands.

"If he really held things detrimental to you and me and handed them over to our mortal enemy, Li Ya,

"I can only say this guy is vicious enough to want to keep fighting us even after death,"

Wu Jingzhong said.

"Let's analyze this.

"If he's coming for us.

"I have a division's worth of arms to handle right now, and with the Chairman there, he can't touch me.

"Teacher's assets have already been transferred to Xiangdao.

"Unless the Secret Service Bureau people can break into the island to raid it, relying on Li Ya's mouth alone—without physical evidence, just based on having met Mu Liancheng and having tea twice—he can't do anything to you.

"After all, you were with the Purge Committee at the time; meeting Mu Liancheng to understand asset allocation during the Japanese occupation is also very reasonable."

Hong Zhiyou said methodically.

"So, the gap can only be Yu Zecheng?

"He wants to investigate Yu Zecheng, then let Mao Renfeng make a big fuss to topple me?"

With this hint, Wu Jingzhong immediately saw through Li Ya's thoughts.

"I think this possibility is the greatest.

"As long as it's found out that Yu Zecheng is a Red Ticket, you won't be able to argue your way out of it."

Hong Zhiyou nodded and said.

"What is your opinion?" Wu Jingzhong's eyes narrowed, revealing intense murderous intent.

"Teacher, getting rid of Yu Zecheng is the worst strategy.

"Not to mention the feelings built up over so many years, if Yu Zecheng dies, our dealings with the Red Tickets will be completely cut off.

"In a sense, protecting Yu Zecheng is an exchange of interests.

"Furthermore, the Red Tickets are currently on the verge of sweeping the world. Without Yu Zecheng, many things will be troublesome in the future.

"You've been free-ranging him for so long.

"To abandon him now would be too uneconomical."

Hong Zhiyou persuaded him patiently.

"Mm.

"What you say makes a lot of sense. Cutting off an arm to survive is the worst strategy. Let's see what tricks he has up his sleeve," Wu Jingzhong nodded and said.

"Yu Zecheng isn't stupid. If there were direct evidence, Jianfeng and the headquarters would have already sent him to a military tribunal.

"Clearly, Li Ya doesn't have direct evidence either.

"It won't be a simple matter to topple Director Yu in the short term.

"We'll meet every move with a counter-move.

"By the way, I'm going to Shanghai in two days to help Jianfeng.

"I want to apply to take someone with me."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Take who?" Wu Jingzhong asked, frowning.

"Mrs. Yu," Hong Zhiyou said.

"You'll have to ask Yu Zecheng and his wife about that. I'm relieved if she goes with you," Wu Jingzhong said with a double meaning.

"I've been thinking, those ancient pieces of evidence Yu Zecheng has are already worn thin by Liu Xiong and Ma Kui; they no longer carry any weight."

"Li Ya can only start with Cuiping to force Old Yu to show his flaws.

"I'll take Cuiping directly to Shanghai.

"Li Ya will just have to stare helplessly."

Hong Zhiyou laughed.

"Mm, feasible.

"Go discuss it with Zecheng," Wu Jingzhong said.

"Alright."

Hong Zhiyou stood up, went straight to Yu Zecheng's office, and explained his thoughts.

Yu Zecheng fell into silence after listening.

If Cuiping were to leave Jinhai rashly now, Li Ya would definitely intercept them halfway.

In the past, Ma Kui had done exactly that.

Unlike Ma Kui, Li Ya's parents were both dead, and he had no wife or children. For a person with no ties, it was very difficult to counter him.

Going with Hong Zhiyou was undoubtedly the safest choice.

"Fine, let's do that," Yu Zecheng said after thinking it through.

"Don't you want to discuss it with my senior sister?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"I'll tell her when I go back tonight, but she must go. I can make that decision," Yu Zecheng said.

"Good," Hong Zhiyou said.

The next day.

With Jianfeng's approval and coordination, Hong Zhiyou officially set off for Shanghai with Cuiping.

Airport.

Yu Zecheng got out of the car to carry Cuiping's luggage.

"Cuiping, Shanghai isn't like Jinhai. It's a place where dragons and snakes mingle, and it's the lair of the Chairman's cronies. You could hit a royal relative with a single brick.

"Be careful in everything, don't be impulsive, and listen to Zhiyou more."

Yu Zecheng exhorted her as they walked.

This mission itself was also very dangerous.

Jianfeng was going to hunt tigers.

If they didn't dare touch the Crown Prince, wouldn't they dare use Hong Zhiyou as the chicken to scare the monkey? Cuiping, as a bodyguard, was naturally in great danger.

"Got it.

"Your health isn't good, remember to take your medicine on time.

"When you hang the clothes, shake them out, otherwise they'll wrinkle.

"Those chickens at home are laying eggs well. Eggs are expensive now, so if we have our own, we won't run out. You have to feed them on time.

"..."

Cuiping looked at Yu Zecheng, having endless things to nag about.

"If you two keep chatting, the plane will take off.

"Don't say anything else, just give each other a hug,"

Hong Zhiyou couldn't stand their dawdling and suggested.

Yu Zecheng was stunned, feeling a bit at a loss.

Cuiping took a small step forward, but seeing Yu Zecheng didn't react at all, she sighed in her heart and pulled back.

"Old Yu, take care."

After saying this, she turned, picked up her luggage, and boarded the plane without looking back.

Yu Zecheng waved his hand.

By the time he came to his senses, the plane had already glided away.

At that moment, he felt an inexplicable pain in his heart.

It was different from the heart-wrenching pain of hearing the bad news about Whether Zuo Lan.

Yu Zecheng felt as if a piece of his heart had inexplicably gone empty; it was very uncomfortable, and he wasn't used to it.

Not until the plane turned into a black dot.

Did he get into the car and drive away, looking lost and soul-less.

Shanghai.

Inside a luxurious hotel.

Kong Lingkan, with his hair slicked back and wearing a Western suit, sat on the topmost sofa, crossing his legs and puffing on a cigar.

As the eldest son of the Kong family, Kong Lingkan had always been the "King of Kings" in Shanghai, often considering himself the Grand Duke.

Above, he sparred with his uncle Song Ziwen, fighting until they were locked in a stalemate.

Below, the Yangzi Company walked sideways in Jinhai, controlling all the flour, rice, and oil.

He had an endless supply of cards in his hand.

And endless money to earn.

Since the issuance of the Gold Yuan notes in mid-to-late August, the National Army had been incompetent, suffering defeat after defeat, which completely disrupted the Chairman's plan to stabilize Shanghai and the currency.

Without the support of foreign exchange, battle reports, and supplies.

Kong Lingkan used the opportunity of the deadline for recovering gold and US dollars to get a lot of gold by relying on the Gold Yuan notes, which were like waste paper.

And secretly used his merchant ships to hoard a large amount of supplies with people like Du Weiping.

A single flip of the hand meant ten or even dozens of times the profit, and he made a fortune.

"Young Master Kong, I heard that Xuan Tiewu submitted a resignation report to the Chairman, and the Chairman decided to send Jianfeng to preside over the Economic Management Committee. This is aimed at us."

A young man wearing a Western suit with a face like a shoehorn said from the side.

"Weiping, are you afraid?" Kong Lingkan said.

"A little.

"I heard that Hong Zhiyou from Jinhai is following him.

"My father has dealt with this person; he has many methods. The combination of him and Jianfeng is likely to be trouble,"

Du Weiping said.

"What trouble? Just kill him," Kong Lingkan said dismissively.

"I'm afraid it's not that simple."

Du Weiping, however, knew very clearly.

If Hong Zhiyou were so easy to kill, his father, Du Yuesheng, would have already made a move at the Green Gang headquarters last time. Why would he have given up those thousand taels of gold and become a sworn friend with Hong Zhiyou?

If Lingkan continued to be so unscrupulous, he was afraid he would suffer a great loss.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 313 =====